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Student Congress
General Meeting #1
September 10, 2013
Start Time: 9:00pm
Introduction: WELCOME TO FIRST STUDENT CONGRESS MEETING!
-Introduction of all general student congress members.
-Exciting thing that we are doing. Decided as a cabinet that we will break up
into groups
*2-3 congress members for every cabinet member.
*Purpose to get to know each other more and connect.
-Run through how student congress works:
*Start: sit in circle. Intentional where we will sit. Specific seats for each
member will be established.
*Start of the meeting with board and committee updates.
*Committees:
-Boards and committees with faculty and staff
-Task Forces
-Three different types of committees:
***Pick a board or a sub-committee. Whatever interests you. List 3 that you
would like from1 being your highest preference***
1) Academic Affairs Board (1/2/5T) (relates to academic matters)
Curriculum committee (2TH)
Cultural affairs
International Education Committee
Library Committee (talk about library needs)
Assessment Committee (look at classes, SALT surveys)
2) Campus Life Board (1T)- Divya sits on this Committee (all student
life. Student Congress, Greek life, all other organizations)
-Co-Curricular Activities Committee (3rd TH) (about things that
you do along with being a student. Organizations. If some
group wants to become an official organization)
-Religious life committee
-Student media committee (anchor, help select editors)
-Residential life committee (res life, rules, policies)
3) Administrative Affairs (2T)-Ashley Fraley Sits on this (major
policy changes, sexual harassment policy. President Knapp sits on
this, Dean Frost)
-Admissions and Financial Aid Committee
-Athletic committee
-Student Standing and Appeals Committee (If someone does
something wrong, Ex: Greek Life getting in trouble)
-Multicultural Affairs committee
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Task Forces:
-Internal Strengthening :(bonding activities of us as a unit. Doing things as
a campus. T-shirts and apparel. Food brought to meetings etc.)
-Campus Protection Program (CPP): Patrick; (work with campus safety,
issues such as transportation, etc.)
-Campus Relations: Regina Sanchez and Forest; make sure that other
organizations such as Greek life, athletics. That student congress has their
support. STAND UP>> make it clear to students what it is. Bridge the gap
between students and student congress.
-Community Service: Marianna; Serve the community in various ways such
as Relay for Life coming up this semester. Raise money for families and
individuals. Spring semester we will be doing Dance Marathon.
-Sustainability: Andrew Harrison; Talk of initiating a bike program. Hope
going green. Talk of insulating houses and putting in new appliances.
Appropriations:
Divya; Due to Student Congress being the umbrella for all student
organizations, we allocate over half a million dollars to student organizations.
Business:
-Academic Affairs Board; met last Thursday
*Approved new study abroad program
*Zero Credit Policy Discussion. Will continue this discussion this
following Tuesday
-Campus Life Board: met last Tuesday
*Discussed Greek Life: Is doing a new approach to New Member
Education.
+Now called GO (Greek Orientation).
+Will be doing a 6 week program instead of 2 weeks.
-Administrative Affair Board: met today
* Talked about sexual harassment policy.
+Redefining what sexual harassment actually is.
+Not just for Hope students but also members and faculty.
+Talked a lot about abuse and what that means.
+New Policy that if you mention an assault to an RA for
example, they are required to report it.
New Business:
-Concerned about bike racks on hopes campus.
*There is definitely a lack of bike racks around campus.
*Need to write a proposal for purchasing more bike racks.
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+Tim Cook willing to learn and set up a proposal to ask Hope to
purchase more.
+Tim Cook will have proposal by next week.
Old Business:
-Sand Beach Volleyball Court:
*Had a volleyball court before but when they put parking lot, they tore
it out.
*Hope College trying to put a new volleyball court to put back, trying
to decide location for it.
*Hannah had meeting this past week. Want to take out the tennis
court and put the sand beach volleyball court.
*A lot of faculty including Dean frost, are on board with it, decision to
add it in that location.
*Hopefully coming next couple of months.
-Pathway between Science Center and Cook:
*Thinking to make it an official sidewalk since many students use it.
*Want to put in landscape to make official sidewalk.
*Uncertain of shoveling it during winter.
Motion to adjourn, seconded.
End Time: 9:39pm